Trip Report Casino Arizona at Talking Stick

This is one of the Phoenix area Indian Casinos. It is close to downtown Phoenix and seems to have more poker tables (Probably ¼ of the total floor space) than any other local casino.

I am primarily a limit hold em player and have played there a couple times but play over 90% of the time on line. I was a bit discouraged playing limit live primarily because I am a pretty tight player and it is very difficult to protect strong starting hands. Big pairs get run down by mediocre starting holdings quite frequently because there are usually 5 or 6 to the flop. I am sure over time this is great for the good player but for someone who only plays a few hands per hour and for a few hours once per month or so it only takes one trouncing of my AA or KK to make it a net loss visit.

Last Sunday I had a day to myself and I wanted to play NL. I have played NL at other casinos and expected the same game. It turns out this casino spreads a $5 / $150 game. I had to ask what that was. It was over in the high stakes area which is not really a different area of the casino, just has the board for the waiting list on the opposite side of the playing area. All the tables are mixed together. They spread 10/20, 20/40, 40/80 limit, several Omaha games (Sorry didn’t pay attention to the stakes) and the $5 / $150 game from the high stakes board. Turns out $5 / $150 is a kind of hybrid NL game. Blinds are $3 / $5 and the minimum bet is $5. You can raise any amount up to $150. Minimum buy in is $100 and Maximum is $300. Any raises must be at least as large as the previous bet/raise. I have only played ½ NL in casinos but if I am playing NL on line I play $50 or $100 full ring games.

I bought $300 in chips and put my name on the board. It was a Sunday afternoon and I didn’t wait more than 20 minutes for enough people to sign up to start a new table. All players bought in for the max $300 which made me think I would see some smart aggressive play. I was a bit intimidated and decided to play my very tight game and be conservative. I played for about 40 minutes before I got involved with a hand. The table was as loose as the limit 4/8 table with 5 or 6 limpers if no one raised but a $20 to $25 raise would generally narrow the field to 2 or 3 total. About half the hands were going to show down (seemed like a lot to me) and many of the players would become vary aggressive post flop. There were probably 6 all ins the first hour there and I remember at least 3 of them being bluffs that were called down with TPTK type hands or worse. I soon realized that even though this game was a “high stakes” game it had the same type of players I normally see on the $50 Party Poker NL tables.

The first hand I got involved in was from the big blind. There were several limpers (at least 4) the SB completes and I check. I have J6 suited. Flop comes J67 rainbow. SB checks, I check, and a MP player bets $30 which is close to a pot sized bet. Folds to me, I Raise to $100. folds back to the better who just calls. Turn comes J so I hit a great card. I put the MP player on a hand like AJ as any Ax seemed to be a limping hand at this table. I check, He bets $100 and I push in. He quickly calls and turn comes blank. I show my hand and get the pot.

Lucky flop and turn for me but now my stack is about $480. I played a few more hands over the next hour but can’t continue after the flop. Next hand of note is AK suited UTG. I raise to $25 and the player to my right announces to the table that he puts me on AA or KK because he has only seen me play 3 hands in the last 2 hours. I just say could be, get one LP caller and he comes along from the BB. Flop brings K X X rainbow and he bets $50. He seems loose but solid and has ~ $400. I raise $100 more and the MP caller folds. He says “got a set or just AA” I say “could be”. He folds. I played 2 more hands and noticed I wasn’t getting much action. About an hour later I am delt AJ suited in MP and am 1st in for a $25 raise. I get 2 callers including the BB and we see a flop that comes A T X rainbow. Checked by the BB and I bet $75 (about the pot size) LP calls me and BB folds. Turn comes blank no flush or straight help. I bet $50 thinking he will raise me if I am behind. He calls (Crap, I am probably beat). River comes blank, I check giving him a chance to steal it, He checks and shows JJ. I felt like I was behind but won that pot and showing my AJ. This put a little dent in my tight image at the table.

My last hand was KK from the big blind. There are a couple limpers and the SB raises to $25. He actually seems like a pretty strong player and our stacks were about equal at ~$600. I raise him another $50 to make it $75 to go. All the limpers drop and he just looks at me for a while. He said “I got a really good hand” I said “me too”. He thinks for about 30 seconds and calls. I thought he was going to reraise me because he was quite aggressive once he decided to play a hand. Flop comes with an A and he is first to act. He said “I am going to be nice to you and check”. This tells me he either has a hand like AA or AK and wants me to commit some money or he missed and wants to see what I do. I am sure this was a mistake but I say, ok, its heads up I’ll check. He said I’ll check it down for you and I did the same. I am sure this was a mistake and he ended up having JJ. I won but would have been disappointed if he hit his set by the river, it just seemed like a friendly situation.

I left up over $400 after about 4 hours of play. I think there were probably a couple players at the table that were better post flop than me but I was definitely the tightest pre flop. I would limp with AXs and any pair from the last 3 before the button but only premium hands from out of position. On line I am about 13% VP$IP and I was playing the same game there. I will go back again to see if this was just a lucky run some time.

Good Luck AZACE

I haven't been back as I have been working a lot. I am actually in Connecticut today. I am going to Foxwoods tomorrow after I finish up to play for a few hours then back home tomorrow night.

I don't really like tournaments because of the all or nothing type risk reward (You can spend hours and show nothing if you bubble).

Good Luck

Thanks, I'm getting more and more nervous as the day approaches. Good luck at Foxwoods.

I love tournaments and cash games equally. It's the ROI opportunity that attracts me to the tournaments.